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After finishing my concept Boba Fett helmet (see thread: http://www.thedentedhelmet.com/f23/s...-helmet-48586/) I got the hang of it and want to build some more McQuarrie concept helmets. Now I’m doing the research for my next project which will be the concept version of Darth Vader’s helmet. I found several similar projects by other people which is encouraging. Also looked at the mini busts and statues. First I have to choose which style of the several concepts I want to render. I went for the above picture, this epic scene on the front on “The STAR WARS” portfolio was also the first time I got acquainted with MqQuarrie’s work.

I wasn’t sure yet how to start up the project, then I got the idea to use the “Talking Vader” helmet released in 2007 as a template to work over and to get the rough dimension. (I’m not going to destroy the actual toy helmet, it’s only for sizing) The toy helmet is incorrect compared to the real Vader helmet especially the bucket shape, but for the concept it works fine.

I just took a couple detailed photos of the toy helmet which I will use to project the sketches on and to draw my own line plan on.

Creating the rim of the helmet was a bit tougher than expected. Literally took me 20 templates to cut before I ended up with something that fits. Also figured out that the only way to get the eyebrow part to look the way it does, was to make it from a separate piece. I try to give it that “Samurai” look initially intended by McQuarrie. I think I got it. Now It’s ready for a layer of fiber glass.
But first I will start on the mask, this part is a bit daunting, there is a lot going on shape wise, and I’m not yet sure how to start as a base.

You must have been doing this a long time, I feel like TDH has this great new builder that came out of nowhere! Great looking stuff, love the concept Vader.

Hey thanks all, glad people enjoy the build.

Though I’m a Star Wars fan and collector ever since I was a kid, I actually never build 1:1 helmets before a couple of months ago. But I am a model builder not only SciFi. I’m also a professional graphic designer/visualizer, so that’s probably why shaping these things come more natural to me.

Stumbled on the TDH website via Facebook and love it, very encouraging to see how other people tackle the same problems with great results. That’s why I decided to join and post my build.

Indeed, often scratch building leaves me more in control over the shape and materials then using existing parts.

- - - Updated - - -

Building the mask out of Polystyrol and adding details and refining the shapes.

It’s hard figuring out the shape of the mask underneath the helmet. After all it’s not rendered in the sketches. But that is also the fun of such a project to improvise. McQuarrie’s early Vader sketches had a lot of facial expressions in the mask compared to the end result in the movies which is more expression neutral and more machine like.

Also took a shot of both the Vader and Fett helmets for size comparison.